Transport installation for paper reels, method for its operation and vehicle

ABSTRACT

A vehicle ( 12 ) which can be coupled to a nondriven carriage ( 9   a ) carrying a paper reel ( 10 ) and to a further such carriage ( 9   b ) carrying a reel core basket ( 11 ) by means of electromagnetic coupling elements is movable underfloor on a loading track ( 4 ) which can be reached via a turntable ( 3 ). Said vehicle pulls the latter carriage ( 9   b ) from a storage track ( 8 ) onto a sliding platform ( 5 ), from which it is pushed to a reel stand ( 6 ), where the reel core basket ( 11 ) receives a reel core before the carriage ( 9   b ) is pushed back onto the storage track ( 8 ). Thereafter, the vehicle ( 12 ) travels to the waiting station of the carriage ( 9   a ) carrying the paper reel ( 10 ), couples, pulls it onto the sliding platform ( 5 ), uncouples and travels onto the storage track ( 8 ). After the paper reel ( 10 ) has been received by the reel stand ( 6 ), the vehicle ( 12 ) travels back onto the sliding platform ( 5 ), couples again to the carriage ( 9   a ) and pushes it back to the waiting station. The vehicle ( 12 ) has two pairs of wheels, one of which is drivable, and a pair of pressure wheels which, in a starting position, project beyond the pairs of wheels and can be pressed downwards against an elastic restoring force.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a transport installation for feedingpaper reels to at least one reel stand, as used in particular inprinting works, a method for operating the same and a vehicle for use insuch a transport installation.

PRIOR ART

[0002] Installations and methods of the generic type have long beenknown, cf. for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,751. There, for example,transport installations as described in EP-A-0 587 015 are used on theloading track and the track section, in which transport installationsthe carriage carrying the reel frictionally engages with a transportchain which revolves along the track. For further installations havingrail-guided driven carriages for the reel transport, reference is madeto DE-A-198 60 475, GB-A-2 181 117 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,516. Othertransport installations for feeding paper reels to reel stands are knownas automatic guided vehicle (AGV) systems. They comprise drivencontrollable carriages (cf. for example EP-A-0 334 366) which followwires laid in the floor and, for example, are supplied with energy by abattery and are radio controlled.

[0003] Installations of the first-mentioned type can be completely orpartly equipped with transport chains, the carriages being movedmanually over installation parts not provided with such chains. Theequipment with transport chains is relatively complicated. Slidingplatforms, optionally also turntables, must be provided with separatetransport chains and corresponding drives, so that it is precisely theautomatic loading of the reel stands, which is particularly desirablesince the environment of the reel stands constitutes a danger area,which requires a relatively high degree of complexity. In installationsof the second-mentioned type, the costs for the drives and controls playa considerable role, especially if a relatively large number ofcarriages is used.

[0004] A vehicle according to the precharacterizing clause of claim 9 isdisclosed in DE-A-23 34 141. It serves for moving carriages carryingmaterial to be distilled in a distillery on a rail system laid above thefloor. However, it is scarcely suitable for use in an installationaccording to the invention. Since the paper reel has considerable weightbut, because it does not rest on the driven vehicle, does not contributeto the pressure of the driven wheels, sufficient traction is notnecessarily ensured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is the object of the invention to provide a transportinstallation of the generic type in which complexity and costs both forthe tracks and for the carriages are relatively low. This object isachieved by the features in the characterizing clause of claim 1.

[0006] In the installation according to the invention, complicatedtransport means in the tracks are not required. At the same time, thenumber of relatively expensive drives and controls can be kept low. Ingeneral, it corresponds to the number of reel stands, while the numberof carriages can be substantially higher, so that it is possible, forexample, to process a relatively large number of reels and to store themtemporarily on carriages. The embodiment according to the invention isparticularly advantageous in the case of transport installations inwhich only the reel stands are automatically loaded while the reeltransport is performed by means of manually driven carriages. Inaddition, a suitable method for operating the transport installationaccording to the invention is provided.

[0007] Furthermore, a vehicle particularly suitable for use in atransport installation according to the invention is to be provided.This object is achieved by the features in the characterizing clause ofclaim 9. In the vehicle according to the invention, the drivable wheelsare pressed against the rails independently of its weight, wherebysufficient frictional engagement is assured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference tofigures which represent only an embodiment.

[0009]FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a transport installation according tothe invention,

[0010]FIG. 2 shows a side view of a vehicle according to the invention,

[0011]FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section through an end segment of avehicle and an abutting end segment of a carriage coupled thereto,

[0012]FIG. 4 shows a front view of the vehicle according to

[0013]FIG. 2 and a section through a track on which said vehicle cantravel and

[0014]FIGS. 5a-o show the feeding of a new paper reel to a reel stand bymeans of the transport installation according to the invention,including the removal of a reel core or residual reel which is exchangedfor it. There,

[0015]FIG. 5a shows a part of the transport installation according tothe invention from FIG. 1 at the beginning of reel feed,

[0016]FIG. 5b shows the installation part from FIG. 5a after a firststep of the reel feed,

[0017]FIG. 5c shows the installation part of FIG. 5a after a second stepof the reel feed,

[0018]FIG. 5d shows the installation part of FIG. 5a after a third stepof the reel feed,

[0019]FIG. 5e shows the installation part of FIG. 5a after a fourth stepof the reel feed,

[0020]FIG. 5f shows the installation part of FIG. 5a after a fifth stepof the reel feed,

[0021]FIG. 5g shows the installation part of FIG. 5a after a sixth stepof the reel feed,

[0022]FIG. 5h shows the installation part of FIG. 5a after a seventhstep of the reel feed,

[0023]FIG. 5i shows the installation part of FIG. 5a after an eighthstep of the reel feed,

[0024]FIG. 5j shows the installation part of FIG. 5a after a ninth stepof the reel feed,

[0025]FIG. 5k shows the installation part of FIG. 5a after a tenth stepof the reel feed,

[0026]FIG. 5l shows the installation part of FIG. 5a after an eleventhstep of the reel feed,

[0027]FIG. 5m shows the installation part of FIG. 5a after a twelfthstep of the reel feed,

[0028]FIG. 5n shows the installation part of FIG. 5a after a thirteenthstep of the reel feed and

[0029]FIG. 5o shows the installation part of FIG. 5a at the end of thereel feed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] The transport installation according to the invention comprises(FIG. 1) a paper reel store, in particular a buffer store 1, for holdingunpacked paper reels provided with adhesive patches, i.e. prepared forreel change, from which store a straight feed track 2 leads via aplurality of turntables 3, at each of which a loading track 4, whichleads to a sliding platform 5 or a lifting platform of a reel stand 6,branches off at right angles. When the sliding platform 5 is in atransfer position, the loading track 4 is flush, on the feed side of thesliding platform 5, with a track section 7 thereon. On the side facingaway from the feed side, there is an adjacent storage track 8 which isflush with the loading track 5.

[0031] A nondriven carriage 9 a which can receive a paper reel 10 iscapable of travelling on each of the loading tracks 4, and a reel corebasket 11 for receiving reel cores of spent paper reels is arranged on afurther nondriven carriage 9 b which is usually parked on the storagetrack 8. Between the two carriages 9 a, 9 b, a vehicle 12 is capable oftravelling on the loading track 4, the track section 7 and the storagetrack 8, which vehicle can be coupled both to the carriage 9 a servingfor paper reel transport and to the carriage 9 b carrying the reel corebasket 11.

[0032] The vehicle 12 has (FIGS. 2-4) a frame 13, on the underside ofwhich a pair of wheels 14; 15 is mounted in the vicinity of each of thetwo ends. The axle carrying the pair 14 of wheels is driven by anelectric motor 16 via a step-down gear 17 and a mitre gear 18 which issuspended from the underside of the frame 13. The electric motor 16 issupplied with power via current collectors 19 and a power unit 20 havinga converter, and is controlled by a control unit 21. A marker 22 servesfor determining the position of the vehicle 12, as will be explained inmore detail further below. Mounted approximately in the middle of thevehicle 12, in the frame, is a pair of pressure wheels 23 which, in anunloaded starting position, project slightly beyond the wheels 14, 15but can be pressed down against an elastic restoring force. Buffer-likeswitchable electromagnetic coupling elements 24 for coupling tocarriages are mounted at both ends of the frame 13. Sensors which are inthe form of switches 25 and which determine whether a carriage 9 iscoupled to the vehicle 12 or not are mounted below the coupling elements24. The electromagnetic coupling elements 24 each have (FIG. 3) awinding 26 which surrounds a projecting core 27 having a flat contactsurface at the end. Said contact surface can rest against an end face onthe housing of the coupled carriage 9. The switch 25 comprises a pin 28which is held by the coupled carriage 9, against the force of a pressurespring 29, in a retracted position.

[0033] The carriage 9 is formed in a manner known per se with a chassis30 capable of travelling underfloor on the track and a trough 31 whichis arranged above the floor and intended for receiving a paper reel or areel core basket, etc. and which is connected to the chassis 30 by meansof a web. They can in this respect correspond to the carriages describedin EP-A-0 587 015. The chassis 30 has, at both ends, end faces which arenormal to the longitudinal direction and are formed by an end wall 32consisting of ferromagnetic material and which the coupling elements 24of the vehicle 12 can engage.

[0034] The track is laid underfloor and comprises (FIG. 4), in a mannerknown per se, two rails 33 in the form of U-profiles which face oneanother and are supported by means of supporting profiles and thresholdson the bottom of a trench. It is cast in concrete and covered by coverplates 34 which rest on the rails 33 and leave free only a narrow gap 35located in the middle above the rails 33. The insides of the lowerflanges of the rails 33 form running surfaces on which the wheels 14, 15run, while the pressure wheels 23 press elastically against the insidesof the upper flanges so that the driven wheels 14 are pressed againstthe running surfaces and have a reliable frictional connection with therails 33. The diameters of the wheels 14, 15 and of the pressure wheels23 are preferably identical and only slightly smaller than the distancebetween the flanges of the rails 33. Two conductor rails 36 with whichthe current collectors 19 are in contact are laid in the middle betweenthe running surfaces. A cable duct 37 runs along one of the rails 33, onthe outside thereof and parallel thereto. The vehicle 12 is presentsubstantially between the rails 33 and does not project above the coverplates 34 so that collision with objects lying on the floor or withpersons need not be feared.

[0035] The vehicles 12 can be controlled substantially by a stationarycontrol unit, while the control unit 21 performs in each case onlyelementary functions. The position of the vehicle is monitored by virtueof the fact that the marker 22 is detected by active sensors on thetrack. In many cases, it is sufficient if in each case only the presenceof the vehicle 12 at specific stopping points and other switching pointsis detected. On the other hand, the position of the vehicle can also beconstantly updated by the control unit, for example by calculating thetravel distance by monitoring the wheel revolutions, the detectionmerely resulting in recalibration of the position. In this case, asingle sensor which is regularly passed and then triggers arecalibration in each case may also be sufficient.

[0036] Instead of the marker 22, it is also possible to provide anactive sensor, whereas only markers which are detected by the sensor aremounted on the track. The markers can be uniquely identified orindistinguishable and mounted only at specific points or at regularintervals. The detection can be communicated by the vehicle to thecontrol unit via the conductor rails, by radio or by modulated infraredbeam. Also conceivable is position monitoring by a measuring beam in thetrack, which interacts with a reflector on the vehicle, but in this casethe cross-section of the vehicle as well as of the carriage must nothinder the measuring beam between transmitter and reflector, andmoreover position monitoring requires additional installations on thetrack section 7 of the sliding platform 5.

[0037] The vehicle 12 may be in certain travel states, such as ‘stop’,‘slow forwards’, ‘fast forwards’, ‘slow reverse’, ‘fast reverse’, where‘fast’ can correspond, for example, to 0.2 m/sec and ‘slow’ to about afifth thereof. It can be switched in each case by a specific switchingcommand from the control unit to a specific travel state, in which itremains until it receives a further switching command. Alternatively, itcan remain in a state for as long as it periodically receives acorresponding command and return to a ground state, such as ‘stop’ whenthe commands cease.

[0038] Normally, the vehicle 12 can be driven ‘fast’ but, on passing asensor upstream of the stopping point to be approached, can be switchedto ‘slow’ so that, as soon as the marker 22 is detected by a furthersensor at the stopping point and switching to ‘stop’ is triggered, itcan stop virtually instantaneously. The commands can be transmitted bythe control unit once again via the conductor rails 36, by radio or by amodulated infrared beam to the vehicle 12. If the vehicle carries anactive sensor, certain transitions, such as, for example, ‘slowforwards’-‘stop’ or ‘fast forwards’-‘slow forwards’, can also betriggered directly by signals thereof if it responds to a stopping pointor to a switching point upstream thereof.

[0039] Instead of being supplied with energy via conductor rails, thevehicle can also be supplied with energy in any other manner. It maycarry, for example, an energy store, for example a battery, so that nopermanent energy transmission is required.

[0040] A reel change on one of the loading tracks 4 is described belowwith reference to FIGS. 5a-o.

[0041]FIG. 5a shows the starting position after a reel change and beforechanging of the reel core or residual reel for a new paper reel. Thetwo-arm reel stand 6 carries an empty reel core or a virtually emptyreel core, i.e. a virtually completely spent, separated residual reeland a paper reel which has just been unwound (not shown). On the feedside of the sliding platform 5, the carriage 9 a with the new, unpackedpaper reel 10 provided with an adhesive patch is parked in the vicinityof the turntable 3, on a waiting station of the loading track 4, and thevehicle 12 is parked at a stopping point adjacent to the slidingplatform 5, which is present in the transfer position. The carriage 9 bwith the reel core basket 11 is on the storage track 8.

[0042] In order to remove the reel core from the reel stand, the vehicle12 first travels ‘fast forwards’ over the rail section 7 of the slidingplatform 5 onto the storage track 8 to a switching point where it isswitched to ‘slow forwards’. At low speed, it travels with switched-oncoupling elements to the carriage 9 b, which carries the reel corebasket 11 and is switched to ‘stop’ as soon as the sensor of the frontcoupling element responds (FIG. 5b). The vehicle 12 then travels in‘fast reverse’ back to the track section 7, where, on passing aswitching point, it is switched to ‘slow reverse’ and thus approaches astopping point at which it is switched to ‘stop’ and halts.

[0043] The carriage 9 b with centred reel core basket 11 stands on thesliding platform (FIG. 5c). Since the track section 7 is too short alsoto hold the vehicle 12 completely, the coupling elements are switchedoff and the vehicle 12 is moved in ‘fast reverse’ a short distance to astopping point on the loading track 4, so that it is free of the tracksection 7 (FIG. 5d). The sliding platform 5 is now pushed against thereel stand 6 until the reel core basket 11 stands under the reel core,which is now released by the cones of the reel stand 6 and falls intothe reel core basket 11 (reel core 38, FIG. 5e). The sliding platform 5is moved back to the transfer position (FIG. 5f) and then the carriage 9b is pushed by the vehicle 12 back onto the storage track 8 (FIG. 5g).

[0044] For feeding the paper reel 10, the vehicle 12 now travels onceagain in ‘fast reverse’ to a switching point shortly before the stoppingposition and then continues travelling with switched-on couplingelements in ‘slow reverse’ until it comes into contact with the carriage9 a, couples to said carriage and is switched to ‘stop’ (FIG. 5h).Switched to ‘fast forwards’, the vehicle 12 now travels with thecarriage 9 a over the loading track 4 back to the sliding platform 5,where it once again passes a switching point and, switched to ‘slowforwards’, approaches a stopping point, at which the paper reel 10 iscentred on the sliding platform 5 (FIG. 5i). If the paper reel 10 doesnot always rest exactly centred on the carriage 9 a or if different reelwidths are possible, the passage of its front edge or of the front edgeand of the rear edge can be detected by a light barrier, and anadjusting displacement can be performed after reaching the stoppingpoint.

[0045] The vehicle 12 is then uncoupled and is moved to a stopping pointon the storage track 8, on which it is free from the track section 7(FIG. 5j). Thereafter, the sliding platform with the carriage 9 a ismoved towards the reel stand 6 and the paper reel 10 is clamped betweenthe cones which have become free through the ejection of the reel core(FIG. 5k) and said paper reel is raised from the carriage 9 a. Thesliding platform 5 with the carriage 9 a is then moved back to thetransfer position (FIG. 5l). The vehicle now travels with switched-oncoupling elements 24 in ‘slow reverse’ onto the track section 7 of thesliding platform 5 until it comes into contact with the carriage 9 a andcouples to it (FIG. 5m). Thereafter, the vehicle 12 travels in ‘fastreverse’ over the track section 7 and the loading track 4 up to theswitching point upstream of the waiting station and in ‘slow reverse’until it reaches a stopping point, where at the same time the carriage 9a occupies the waiting station (FIG. 5n). The coupling elements are thenswitched off and the vehicle 12 is moved back to its stopping pointadjacent to the sliding platform 5 (FIG. 5o). Thus, the starting stageis once again reached, with the difference that the carriage 9 a carriesno paper reel.

[0046] The carriage 9 a can then be moved manually and replaced by acarriage which is loaded with a paper reel and which is likewise movedmanually to the waiting station. If the transport installation isappropriately equipped, the carriage 9 a can, however, also be loadedwith a new paper reel at the waiting station, which paper reel isbrought directly from the buffer store, for example by means of a cranesystem.

[0047] Of course, many modifications and extensions of the installationdescribed are possible. Thus, for example, if the reel cores are to bedisposed of via the transport installation as soon as the reel corebasket is full, a further storage track can be provided parallel to thestorage track in the displacement region of the sliding platform, onwhich further storage track the vehicle is temporarily parked so that itis out of the way and the carriage with the reel core basket can bemoved manually over the track section and the loading track to adisposal station.

[0048] Instead of being fed via the feed track and the turntables, theloading tracks can also be fed by a movable carriage which is in theform of a sliding platform and can be moved parallel to the row of reelstands and carries a track section which is oriented transversely, i.e.parallel to the loading tracks, and at whose end a coupling element anda sensor which correspond to those of the vehicle are provided forholding a carriage at a loading position. The carriage standing in theloading position on the movable carriage is in this case loaded at thebuffer store by means of a crane or by telescopic arms and then themovable carriage is moved until its track section is flush with aselected loading track, whereupon the vehicle travels on the tracksection, couples to the carriage and pulls it over the loading trackonto the sliding platform. The reel feed from the buffer store takesplace automatically in this case.

[0049] List of Reference Symbols

[0050]1 Buffer store

[0051]2 Feed track

[0052]3 Turntable

[0053]4 Loading track

[0054]5 Sliding platform

[0055]6 Reel stand

[0056]7 Track section

[0057]8 Storage track

[0058]9, 9 a,b Carriage

[0059]10 Paper reel

[0060]11 Reel core basket

[0061]12 Vehicle

[0062]13 Frame

[0063]14, 5 Wheels

[0064]16 Electric motor

[0065]17 Step-down gear

[0066]18 Mitre gear

[0067]19 Current collector

[0068]20 Power unit

[0069]21 Control unit

[0070]22 Marker

[0071]23 Pressure wheels

[0072]24 Coupling elements

[0073]25 Switch

[0074]26 Winding

[0075]27 Core

[0076]28 Pin

[0077]29 Pressure spring

[0078]30 Chassis

[0079]31 Trough

[0080]32 End wall

[0081]33 Rails

[0082]34 Cover plates

[0083]35 Gap

[0084]36 Conductor rails

[0085]37 Cable duct

[0086]38 Reel core

1. Transport installation for feeding paper reels to at least one reelstand (6), comprising at least one sliding platform (5) having a tracksection (7) and a loading track (4) which leads from a feed side to thesliding platform (5) and with which the track section (7) is flush whenthe sliding platform (5) is in a transfer position, and comprising atleast one nondriven carriage (9 a) for receiving a paper reel (10),characterized in that it comprises at least one driven vehicle (12)which is capable of travelling on the loading track (4) and the tracksection (7), and the vehicle (12) and the carriage (9 a) each have atleast one coupling device by means of which the vehicle (12) can becoupled to the carriage (9 a).
 2. Transport installation according toclaim 1, characterized in that the loading track (4) is arrangedunderfloor and the vehicle (12) is capable of travelling underfloorthereon.
 3. Transport installation according to claim 1 or 2,characterized in that the track section (7) is formed continuouslythrough the sliding platform (5) and, on the side facing away from thefeed side, a storage track (8) which is flush with the loading track (4)is adjacent to the sliding platform (5).
 4. Transport installationaccording to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises aplurality of sliding platforms (5) and parallel loading tracks (4) and afeed track (2) which leads from a paper reel store to the loading tracks(4) and to which the loading tracks (4) are each connected by aturntable (3).
 5. Method for operating a transport installationaccording to any of claims 1 to 4, in which a carriage (9 a) loaded witha paper reel (10) is moved from a waiting station via the loading track(4) onto the sliding platform (5), which is present in the transferposition, and then, for transferring the paper reel (10) to the reelstand (6), the sliding platform (5) with the carriage (9 a) is movedunder the reel stand (6) and the paper reel (10) is raised from thecarriage (9 a) and the sliding platform (5) is then moved back to thetransfer position, whereupon the carriage (9 a) is moved back to thewaiting station, characterized in that, for moving said carriage ontothe sliding platform (5), a driven vehicle (12) is coupled to that endof the carriage (9 a) which faces said sliding platform and said vehiclethen pulls the carriage (9 a) onto the sliding platform (5) and, aftertransfer of the paper reel (10) to the reel stand (6), pushes saidcarriage back to the waiting station.
 6. Method according to claim 5 foroperating a transport installation according to claim 3 or 4,characterized in that, before transfer of the paper reel (10) to thereel stand (6), the vehicle (12) is uncoupled from the carriage (9 a)and is moved onto the storage track (8).
 7. Method according to claim 5for operating a transport installation according to claim 3 or 4 oraccording to claim 6, characterized in that, before the carriage (9 a)is moved from the waiting station onto the sliding platform (5), thevehicle (12) is coupled to a carriage (9 b) standing on the storagetrack (8) and loaded with a reel core basket (11), which vehicle thenpulls said carriage (9 b) onto the sliding platform (5), which ispresent in the transfer position and then, for transferring a reel core(38) from the reel stand (6), the sliding platform (5) with the carriage(9 b) is moved under the reel stand (6) and the reel core (38) isejected into the reel core basket (11) and the sliding platform (5) ismoved back to the transfer position, whereupon the carriage (9 b) ispushed back onto the storage track (8) by the vehicle (12) and thevehicle (12) is uncoupled.
 8. Method according to claim 7, characterizedin that, before transfer of the reel core (38) from the reel stand (6),the vehicle (12) is uncoupled from the carriage (9 b) and is moved ontothe loading track (4).
 9. Vehicle for a transport installation accordingto any of claims 2 to 4, having at least two pairs of wheels (14, 15),of which at least one pair of wheels (14) is drivable for moving thevehicle (12), and having at least one coupling means for the detachablecoupling of the vehicle (12) to a carriage (9), characterized in that ithas at least one pair of pressure wheels (23) which, in the unloadedstate, projects beyond the pairs of wheels (14, 15) and can be pusheddownwards against a restoring force.
 10. Vehicle according to claim 9,characterized in that the at least one coupling means is in the form ofan electromagnetic coupling element (24) which can be switched on andoff.
 11. Vehicle according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that theat least one coupling means (24) is in the form of a buffer.
 12. Vehicleaccording to any of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that it has acoupling means at each end.
 13. Vehicle according to any of claims 9 to12, characterized in that a sensor for detecting any coupled carriage(9) is coordinated with each coupling means.
 14. Vehicle according toclaim 13, characterized in that the sensor is in the form of a switch(25).